Yarn package testing apparatus



Jan. 2, 1951- N. J. FOLSOM YARN PACKAGE TESTING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1946 INVENTOR.

NOEL J. FOLSOM 8 Y E N R W0 T T Y%/ B Patented Jan. 2, 1951 7 2,536,164 YARN PACKAGE 'rns'rmo. APPARATUS Noel J. Folsom, Narrows, Va., assignor to Celanese' Corporation of America, a corporation or ware Application March 21, 1946, Serial No. 656,109

This invention relates'to a testing apparatus and relates more particularly to an improved testing apparatus adapted for determining the density or firmness of the windings on yarn packages such as cones, bobbins, cheeses and the like, 1

Yarns which are sold to mills where they are knitted or woven into fabrics are usually shipped in the form of packages of various shapes such as, for example, cones;'bobbins' or cheeses. In order to be utilized most eflilciently, not only must each of; the several'typ'es'o'f yarn packages be of standard weight 'and dimensions but, in addition,

thedensity or firmness of" the yarn windings 'con-. stituting the yarn package must also be substan- 7 Claims. (CI. 7381) tially uniform; --Lo'osely wound yarn packag es and loosely wound cones"0r heeses in particular are diiiicult to-handle sincethe edges'are' soft, allowing some-of the yarn windings. to slough on.

The resulting tangle causes a considerable waste v of yarn since the yarn package must be unwound until the tangled-yarn is removed. The unwound yarn is usually discarded. Yarn packages which are wound too tightl put an excessive strain in the yarns which is" a frequent causes of broken filaments, particularly where the yarns forming the package are only of a. comparatively low twist.

These difiiculties; make necessary some form of testing devicewhereby the density and firmness of the yarn packages formed may be determined,-thus indicating whether the winding Illa-1 chines producing said packages are operating properly. Heretofore, the density and firmness of a yarn package was determined b driving a pointed rod into the windings of the yarn package by means of a tensioned spring or by means of compressed air acting on a piston to which said pointed rod is suitably connected. In order for said penetrating test device to yield uniformly reliable results, not only must the force driving said pin be -'uniform but the position of the testing device with respect to the yarn packages undergoing density tests must not vary from the packages tested may be substantially uniform.

It is, therefore, an important objectof this invention to provide an improved testing frame or jig adapted to be employed in connection with the testing of yarn packages whereby the device employed for making the desired tests will be accurately and uniformly placed at all times with respect to the yarn package being.testecl.-

Another object of this invention is the provision of a testing frame or jig which isadjustabl and adapted to accommodate different forms and sizes .f i

of yarn packages undergoing firmness and density a v,

tests.

Other objects of this companying drawing,

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, of my improved testing frame or jig. including a yarn package. holder, having a pneumatically driven testing device mounted thereon.

V Fig. 2 is a perspective view'of a support em----. ployed in connection with. said jig and adapted to hold a spool of yarn for testing, and

Fig.3 is a perspective view of a modified yarn a e packag S pport holder on which yarn packages 5 such as cheeses may be mounted.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the novel frame or jig of my invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 4, comprises a bed plate 5 and a back plate 6 which are held together by a pair of brackets 1 attached to each of said plates by bolts 8. Pivotally mounted on a pin 9 set in a shackle Ill attached to bed plate 5 is a substantially rectangular support member ll provided on a portion of one end thereof with a semi-circular groove I2, said end also having a threaded rod [3 set therein. Adapted to rest in the groove i2 v is a circular rod It the opposite end of which is are so situated as to impart an appreciable degree of flexibility to the several integral fingers "3 thus formed. Fingers 18 may be expanded through the action of a conlcally shaped expander l9 slidably mounted on rod 14'. Expander 19 may be forced into the slot-ted end of yarn package support holder It by the action of a lever 20 which ispivotally mounted on a pin 2| carried by a, bracket 22 mounted on bed plate 5.

The testing device employed for determining the firmness and density of the yarn packages through the penetrating action of a pointed rod is of a standard design well known in the art and invention will appear from the following detailed description and the ac- 3 is generally indicated by reference numeral 23. The testing device 23 is actuated by means of air under pressure which is led into a cylinder 24 through a conduit 26, the compressed air acting on a piston (not shown) enclosed therein which cooperates with a piston rod 26 extending downwardly from cylinder 24. Rod 26 is threaded into a sleeve 21 which also has a rod 23 threaded therein leading into and operating the pointed rod 26' of said testing device 23 when rod 23 is forced downward by the air-driven stroke of the piston.

The assembly comprising testing device 23 and air cylinder 24 is mounted on a unitary bracket assembly generally indicated by reference numeral 29. Bracket 29 comprises arms 36 and 3| which are attached to cylinder 24 by means of bolts 32 and 33, respectively. Arm 36 is attached to a block 34 by a bolt." and the lower end of arm 3| is attached to a block 36 by another bolt (not shown). Blocks 34 and 36 are braced by parallel cross-bars 31, only one of which is shown. Blocks 34 and 36 are slidably mounted on a pair of parallel guide rods 33 and 39 so that the entire testing assembly may be shifted along said rods to any desired horizontal position. Rods 33 and 39 are each supported at one end by a member 46 provided with arms 4| and 42, the opposite end of said rods being maintained in a bracket 43, which, in cooperation with a U-shaped member 44 and a pin 45 forms a hinge assembly generally indicated by reference numeral 46. Member 46 carrying guide rods 38 and 39 is vertically adjustable by means of knurled nuts 41 and 46 which are threaded on to rod l3.

Hinge assembly 46 may be vertically adjusted alongslots 49 by means of a lock nut 56 which screws on to a threaded pin integral with U- shaped member 44 and bears on a plate 62 slidably mounted between guide bars 33 and 64 attached to back plate 6 by screws 55. To avoid any lateral or rotational movement of hinge assembly 46, guide pins 56 and 51 are also provided which engage vertical slots 69 and 69 in back plate 6 as well as holes 66 and 6| in plate 52.

In order to test the firmness and density of a yarn package such as, for example, a cone wound on a tapered yarn support, knurled nut 43 is disengaged and the entire assembly comprising bracket 29, and rods 36 and 39 are pivoted up wardly about hinge assembly 46 so that they assume a vertical position. The test assembly comprising bracket 29 and bars 34 and 36 is then dropped along rods 33 and 33 until the hole 62 in arm 3| engages pin 63 set in the upper surface of back plate 6. After support member II is rotated about pin 9 to the horizontal position shown in dot-dash line in Fig. 1, a cone of yarn I6 is slid on to yarn package support holder l6. Member i l is raised to a vertical position, rod I4 is set in groove l2 and lever 26 is then'rotated in a suitable direction so that expander I9 is forced into the end of said yarn holder i6 spreading fingers l3, thus holding the yarn package firmly and in a fixed position. Hole 62 in bracket 26 is then disengaged from pin 63 and the entire assembly pivoted on pin 45 until arms 4| and 42 rest on knurled nut 41. Rods 36 and 39 are then adjusted so that they are parallel to the longitudinal surface of the yarn package directly under the testing device. This is effected by adjusting knurled nut 41 and knurled nut 46 as well as by sliding plate 52, upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be. when the desired parallel adjustment is made, lock nut 69 is then brought up 4 tightly against back plate 62 and nut 43 is tightened on arms 4| and 42.

The firmness and density of the windings of the yarn package directly under the testing device is then determined by allowingair under pressure to enter the cylinder 24. The air under pressure forces piston rod 26 and rod 26 down thereby actuating the test pin 26 and causing the latter to penetrate the yarn windings. The relative firmness and density of the yarn package is shown by the deflection of indicator 64 on a scale 66. To obtain different readings for different portions of the yarn package along a given axis thereof, the testing assembly is shifted to the desired position along rods 36 and 39. Readings for different portions of the periphery of the yarn package may be obtained by forcing lever 20 over to release expander I9 and rotating the yarn package about holder l6, thus presenting another part of periphery of the yarn package to the pin.

To test the firmness and density of yarn packages comprising bobbins, rod l4 and yarn package support l6 are removed and, as shown in Fig. 2, a rod 66 is set in posts 61 at right angles to the usual position of rod II. A bobbin of yarn is slid on the rod 66 and the test carried out as described above after placing the test device assembly over the portion of the bobbin to be tested and adjusting rods 33 and 39 so that they are parallel to the yarn windings. In the case of cheeses wound on a yarn package support having a straight bore, a collar 69 is slid upon yarn package support holder l6 to provide the proper amount for the yarn package and the testis carried out as previously described.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a yarn package testing device for determining the firmness and density of yarn windings on a yarn package support, the combination with testing means, including a force-driven pointed testing rod for penetrating said windings and a measuring device having a scale indicating the degree of penetration of the testing rod into the yarn windings on the yarn package, of a support for said testing means, means for moving said support and said testing means through a vertical arc, means for maintaining said testing means in a predetermined position, said support means comprising guide rods on which said testing means is slidably mounted for lateral movement, and means for mounting a yarn package to be tested in a fixed position relative to the position of said testing means.

2. In a yarn package testing device for determining the firmness and density of yarn windings on a yarn package support, the combination with testing means, including a force-driven pointed testing rod for penetrating said windings and a measuring device having a scale indicating the degree of penetration of the testing rod into the yarn windings on the yarn package, of adjustable support means for maintaining said testing means in a predetermined position, said support means comprising guide rods on which said testing means is slidably mounted for lateral movement, and means cooperating with said guide rods for varying the angle and elevation thereof, and a separate support for mounting a yarn package to be tested in a fixed position relative to and beneath the position of said testing means.

3. In a yarn package testing device for determining the firmness and density of yarn windings on a yarn package support, the combination with testing means, including a force-driven pointed testing rod for penetrating said windings and a measuring device having a scale indicating the degree of penetration of the testing rod into the yarn windings on' the yarn package, of adjustable support means for maintaining said testing means in a predetermined position, said support means comprising guide rods on which said testing means is slidably mounted for lateral movement, means cooperating with said guide rods for varying the angle and elevation thereof comprising a vertically adjustable hinged bracket in which said guide rods are mounted at one end and a vertically adjustable rigid bracket carrying the other end of said rods, and a separate support for mounting a yarn package to be tested in a fixed position relative to and beneath the position of said testing means.

4. In a yarn package testing device for determining the firmness and density of yarn windings on a yarn package support, the combination with testing means, including a force-driven pointed testing rod for penetrating said windings and a measuring device having a scale indicating the degree of penetration of the testing rod into the yarn windings on the yarn package, of adjustable support means for maintaining. said testing means in a predetermined position, said support means comprising guide rods on which said testing means is slidably mounted for lateral movement, means for supporting said guide rods at a plurality of points, means for mounting a yarn package to be tested in a fixed position relative to the position of said testing means, said yarn package mounting means comprising a horizontal rod, a shaped holder carried thereby and adapted to receive a yarn package, locking means cooperating with said shaped yarn holder for locking the yarn package thereon and means including one of the supports for said guide rods for supporting said horizontal rod.

5. In a yarn package testing device for determining the firmness and density of yarn windings on a yarn package support, the combination with testing means, including a force-driven pointed testing rod for penetrating said windings and a measuring device having a scale indicating the degree of penetration of the testing rod into the yarn windings on the yarn package, of adjustable support means for maintaining said testing means in a predetermined position, said support means comprising guide rods on which said testing means yarn package, locking means cooperating with said shaped yarn holder for locking the yarn package thereon and means including one of the supports for said guide rods for supporting said horizontal rod.

6. In a yarn package testing device for determining the firmness and density of yarn windings on a yarn package support, the combination with testing means, including a force-driven pointed testing rod for penetrating said windings and a measuring device having a scale indicating the degree of penetration of the testing rod into the yarn windings on the yarn package, of adjustable support means for maintaining said testing means in a predetermined position, said support means comprising guide rods on which said testing means is slidably mounted for lateral movement, means for supporting said guide rods at a plurality of points, means cooperating with said guide rods for varying the angle and elevation thereof comprising a vertically adjustable hinged bracket in which said guide rods are mounted at one end and a vertically adjustable rigid bracket carrying the other end of said rods, and a separate support for mounting a yarn package to be tested in a fixed position relative t and beneath the position of said testing means, said support comprising a horizontal rod, a shaped holder carried thereby and adapted to receive a yarn package, locking means cooperating with said shaped yarn holder for locking the yarn package thereon and means including one of the supports for said guide rods for supporting said horizontal rod.

7. In a yarn package testing device for determining the firmness and density of yarn windings on a yarn package support, the combination with testing means, including a force-driven pointed testing rod for penetrating said windings and a measuring device having a scale indicating the degree of penetration of the testing rod into the yarn windings on the yarn package, of adjustable support means for maintaining said testing means in a predetermined position, said support means comprising guide rods on which said testing means is slidably mounted for lateral movement, means for supporting'said guide rods at a plurality of points, means cooperating with said guide rods for varying the angle and elevation thereof comprising a vertically adjustable hinged bracket in which said guide rods are mounted at one end and a vertically adjustable rigid bracket carrying the other end of said rods, and a separate support for mounting a yarn package to be tested in a fixed position relative to and beneath the position of said testing means, said support comprising a horizontal rod, a shaped holder expandable at one end carried thereby and adapted to receive a yarn package, and lever means for expanding said shaped yarn package holder and locking the yarn package in fixed position thereon and means including one of the supports for said guide rods for supporting said horizontal rod.

"*NOEL J. FOLSOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,762,498 Wilson June 10, 1930 1,839,093 Geyer et a1 Dec. 29, 1931 2,052,357 Lukens Aug. 25, 1936 2,258,424 Smith Oct. 7, 1941 2,281,324 Preston Apr. 28, 1942 2,313,336 Grover Mar. 9, 1943 2,376,155 Kratzer May 15, 1945 

